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"She is always there for you and if you’re having a bad day," hostess Stevie Ryan told Daily Voice about owner Jessica Travis. "She always makes sure you are okay before she even thinks about herself and would do anything in the world for us."
That includes giving her staff an unforgettable trip to the most magical place on earth: Disney World. Travis said the trip was her way of giving back to her staff who have become incredibly close over the past three years.
"We're always doing fun things," Travis said in an interview with Daily Voice. "I throw parties at TOAST and we have like a psychic come down, or we just do little things like we'll all go get massages or something, but this time it's special."
At the time she took over TOAST in 2019, Travis was working three jobs and caring for her three kids. Shortly after, the pandemic hit and she lost all her staff except for a server and cook.
The trio was able to keep the business afloat through takeout and delivery – which Travis described as a "wave of chaos" – until she hired all new staff. Now that that wave has subsided, Travis is rewarding her crew in the biggest way imaginable.
"I wanted to do something that will let us all relax and also have fun," Travis said. "So, I thought what better way to do that then take them to Universal Studios and Disney World."
Ryan said her boss revealed the surprise trip by having her and her coworkers put together a 30-piece puzzle during a Christmas party. Once she read the puzzle saying, "Surprise we're going to Disney World," the high school sophomore could not believe her eyes.
"She is just the best boss ever. She is such a great role model and she is the most supportive person you could ever meet," Ryan said. "Her giving us this trip just shows her loyalty to al of us and shows that she has our backs no matter what."
Travis said the trip is also representative of the mutual loyalty she feels from her staff, who have stuck by her through thick and thin.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them," Travis said. "The appreciation that I have for them and for sticking by me just is what made me want to do it."
Travis plans on taking the group for a whole day at Universal Studios then hitting up at least two Disney Parks. But since the theme of the vacation is relaxation, she expects to spend a ton of time by the pool, dining out and hanging out in their resort.
While Ryan hasn't been to the Magic Kingdom since she was a little kid, she is looking forward to making new memories that will last a lifetime.
"I am looking forward to just hanging out with my coworkers and creating a stronger bond than we already have," she said. "I only work weekends because I am still in high school...so it will be really nice to be able to spend some time with the other servers that I don’t usually get to work with."
Travis also hopes the trip will reaffirm the tight bonds her staff already has as they dawn their Mickey ears and hop from coaster to coaster.
"Having fun on this vacation will absolutely bring us bring us closer and it will just give us really, really good memories," she said.
The trip is scheduled from May 8 to 15.
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